Here's a little music to get you in the mood for Ring Noel this Saturday. Council Oak Bells play "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" from Ring Noel 2018.
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Enjoy this First Church news.
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Sermon Series - Bethlehem...the Wondrous Gift
Sermon title: "Mary Did You Know"
Tina Cotton will provide special music with the sermon. In addition, the Youth Choir and Youth Handbells will be singing and ringing.
Please invite your family and friends to join us in worship at 8:30 am (Sanctuary), 9:40 am (Family Life Center), and 11 am (Sanctuary) this Sunday.
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The Music of Christmas Comes to First Church!
Music...it’s the first thing that brought Tina and I together. It’s also one of the first things that blessed me at First Church. Those of you who were in town heard it in all three services on Sunday...the haunting
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (with violin, windchimes and a rainstick) and how about that sax player during the offertory and communion at 8:30 and 11:00 am? The Crossroads Band added to their usual ensemble and invited us all into the expectation of Advent at 9:40 am. I often tell our staff, watch out for the “off Sundays,” the ones where attendance is lighter and people are traveling. Often beautiful God-sponsored surprises happen.
This weekend, three
not to miss events await. First is
Ring Noel, complete with drama, special effects and amazing handbells on Saturday night at 7 pm. The sponsored mission for the evening is
Sleep in Heavenly Peace, our project to build beds for families who are in need. Read more about that below.
Second is
Mistletoe Magic, the Senior Access Concert at 6:30 pm on Sunday. Ten other choirs join the our First Church Choral Union to share the joy of Advent and Christmas. The finale includes more than 200 voices singing the
Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s
Messiah. Last year, more than $41,000 was raised for transportation and other support for senior citizens in our area.
Don’t miss this Sunday morning, featuring music by our children and youth handbells and choir. The great song
Mary Did You Know? will be sung in all three services in all three services by our choirs and Crossroads Band. My wife, Tina, will sing as part of the sermon at 8:30 and 11:00.
Next, you are invited to the
Children’s Handbell Christmas Concert on Monday, December 9 at 6 pm in the Sanctuary.
Finally, mark your calendars for the next weekend in which
A Walk Through Bethlehem happens on Saturday, December 14 (not strictly a music event, but fun for the whole family). On Sunday, December 15, our Choral Union and Orchestra will present the beautiful and inspiring cantata,
“Have You Heard?” at 8:30 and 11:00 am. At 9:40 am, Crossroads Band presents
“Gather Round”. My privilege is to sing in the Choral Union and just enjoy the Crossroads Band, but I get to be blessed by it all.
These are all tremendous opportunities to share your faith with someone. Invite someone you know to these musical celebrations. You never know the difference it can make in their lives.
Sincerely in Christ,
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Dr. Will Cotton
Senior Pastor
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Ring Noel is a fabulous show which combines spoken word with music led by First Church’s handbell ministry. Come and hear the
Jubilation, Council Oak, Revelation Ringers Bronze handbell choirs, and
Song of Joy handbell trio. We will follow the shepherds as they are visited by angels and travel to visit the savior in the manger. Plan to arrive early. This is a popular event of the Christmas season. Admission is free and open to all ages.
This event also serves as a benefit concert. This year, First Church will focus our benefit on
Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that builds beds for children in our area who would otherwise be without. Their motto is
No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!
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Cookies for Troops
First Church is baking cookies to be sent with love to the troops overseas for Christmas! Instructions, boxes and everything you need to package your cookies will be available for pick up on
Sunday, December 8. Take a box home and bake basic, sturdy and delicious cookies that will last for the trip to the overseas troops. Please bake any variety of cookie that excludes nuts. Boxes need to be returned by
Sunday, December 15.
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Join us for J-Team on December 8
We're painting Christmas ornaments! Cost: $5.00. Please RSVP to Tammy Parks, Tammy@fumc-rr.org and she will send event door code.
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Student Ministry...the Green Bucket Challenge
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This semester our students have taken on the
Green Bucket Challenge and focused their offering towards the
Freedom Girls of
Somebody Cares Ministries in Malawi, Africa. These adolescent girls are driven to pursue life changing education but are faced with many social, monetary, and physical challenges that stand in the way of them achieving their dreams. Our students have taken it upon themselves to aid in the removal of these barriers and give these incredible young ladies an opportunity to chase their dreams. In just this semester alone our students have brought in more than $600. To put this in perspective, this means that our students have raised funds for 30 girls to receive a Green Bucket for Christmas which will cover their education and living needs for the next trimester.
This offering has been brought in by our students who are committed to helping to meet the needs of others. Some of our students have cut back their Starbucks runs so that they could donate, others have picked up extra shifts at work.
As we near the end of this year though we want to throw something out there to those of you reading this article. Our students have brought in enough to cover the needs for half of the girls in the Freedom Girls program for the next trimester, and while that is great, there are still 30 young ladies that we have not yet funded. We would like your help in ensuring that all of the Freedom Girls receive a Green Bucket for Christmas!
In order to do this we need to raise another $600 by December 12 so that it can be sent over in time. Will you join us in taking on the Green Bucket Challenge?
Click here to give online or you can drop cash or a check by the church office. Make checks payable to FUMC- RR and put Student Offering in the memo line.
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Lessons in Hope
by Reagan Cook, VIM
We may not fully understand the pain others feel when they are struck by devastation three different ways, but we can recognize their pain and, with God's help, work to help alleviate some of it. Vanessa and Jim are older homeowners bravely, persistently facing their battles.
She is fighting her second bout of cancer bravely and with a grace supporting her outward cheerful disposition. Jim just recovered from hip surgery. He's determined to help win their third challenge. While most of their neighbors moved back into homes restored from the 125 mile an hour winds of Hurricane Harvey, Vanessa and Jim live in a very small trailer in front of their home two years after nature's violence. Facing physical and financial challenges, recovery for them takes longer, and it takes UMCOR volunteers.
Thirteen volunteers from First United Methodist Churches in Round Rock, Georgetown, and Salado returned to help this past weekend. By Sunday this team completed sheet rocking a bedroom...
read more
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We appreciate our church staff! They work hard on our behalf and during this Christmas season, we’d like to offer them a small token of our church’s appreciation for all that they do. There are boxes in the Sanctuary and Family Life Center for cash donations. The money will be divided evenly among our administrative and support staff.
This does not include the Pastors. The Staff Parish Relations Commitee thanks you for your contributions.
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This week at First Church...
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Saturday, December 7
- 6:00 pm – Ring Noel, Sanctuary
Sunday, December 8
- 8:30, 9:40 & 11 am – Worship Services
- 9:40 am – Sunday school for all ages
- 2:00 pm – Student Ministries IGNITE, Bldg. 3/FLC
- 3:00 pm – J-Team, Bldg. 5 - 234
- 6:30 pm – Senior Access Christmas Concert, Sanctuary
Monday, December 9
- 6:00 pm – Children's Handbell Recital, Sanctuary
- 7:00 pm – Boy Scouts Troop #157, FLC, Bldg. 3
Tuesday, December 10
- 8:30 am – UMM Tuesday Breakfast Group, Juarez Bakery
- 9:30 am – First Church Crafters, 115 Winsted House
- 9:30 am – Tuesday Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-122
- 6:30 pm – UMW Lydia Circle, Payne Cottage, Room 2
Wednesday, December 11
- 6:15 am – UMM Breakfast, fellowship, & devotional, Bldg. 3/FLC
- 9:30 am – Women's Bible Study, Bldg. 5-232
- 6:00 pm – HeartSong Choir, South Suite Sanctuary
- 6:30 pm – Women’s Bible Study, Bldg. 5-232
- 6:30 pm – Youth Bible Study, Bldg. 5-220
- 7:00 pm – Chancel Choir, South Suite Sanctuary
Thursday, December 12
- 9:30 am – Heart to Heart Quilters, 115 Winsted
Friday, December 13
- 8:30 am – Round Rock Helpers, Payne Cottage, Bldg. 4-2
- 9:30 am – MOM (Ministry of Motherhood), Bldg. 5-232
- 7:00 pm – Round Rock Community Choir Holiday Concert
- 8:00 pm – Narcotics Anonymous, Payne Cottage, Bldg. 4
Saturday, December 14
- 10 am – 3 pm: Walk Through Bethlehem
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Betty Robertson
Communication
First United Methodist Church Round Rock
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First United Methodist Church | Round Rock, TX
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